where is everybody, it is time

I have a bunch of seeds and milk jugs but haven't really started yet. Still too busy with Christmas clutter. I did prep a few jugs and put potting soil in them back in late November one day when it was really nice outside so all they need are seeds. Wish I had done more because now it's cold outside. I always try not to make a mess in the kitchen filling jugs but I fail every time.
I really hope some others will join in here. It's such a great way to get through the winter.

Have you started, Alma?

Usually start mine approx the 3rd week in Feb.

I would like to start a few things that take 90 days of cold. I need to go through my seed list but there is always something else that wants my attention.

I put my first jugs outside yesterday. It was too cold last week. It might not have been to cold for the seeds, but was too cold for ME. I didn't want to open the door at all. lol
I started Rue, Anise hyssop, Rudbeckia laciniada, Prairie milkweed, Indian pinks, centranthus 'Rosie Red', echinacea purpurea, and e. Cheyenne Spirit.
Not sure I started the Indian Pinks early enough. My internet search says it needs a long cold stratification period.
I also started Giant Milkweed (calotropis gigantea) in the house on a heat mat.
I have some other milkweeds to winter sow but I decided to soak the seeds overnight first. Not sure it's needed but I've read that it helps germination with milkweeds.
Anybody else winter sowing?

It was nearly 70 degrees here yesterday so I think I need to get busy before the window closes. I do have nearly all of my perennials done. I added more Cheyenne Spirit coneflowers, senna, phlox paniculata, swamp milkweed, purple milkweed, butterfly weed, common milkweed and a mystery "perennial deep red milkweed" from Tennessee that I got off Etsy. I hope that one makes it so I can see what it is.
I haven't done any annuals yet. I'm low on containers and potting soil and a little low on energy. I hate when I buy a big bag of potting soil and it's soggy wet because they store them outside so it weighs as much as a car.

I checked my containers outside yesterday and was surprised how dry some of them had gotten already with this warmer weather.

LorettaNJ said: Have you started, Alma?

yes, I started on Dec 21st. Right now I have about 105 jugs planted, we have had quite a few nights in the 40's and some in the 30's here in Louisiana, even a short ice storm. Haven't started on my annuals yet, but will probably start mid Feb, our last frost date is around March 11. Some have already sprouted, if we have any below freezing nights I will just cover them up and hope for the best. First year to try this.

Wow!!! 105 jugs! That will make for a full garden. I have so many seeds, I could easily catch up to that though.

Alma - I'm impressed that you have done so many your first year. I hope you have success.

christie8swmo said: Alma - I'm impressed that you have done so many your first year. I hope you have success.

Thank you. There were just so many perennials, natives, and grasses that I wanted to try that are hard to propagate. I mostly have just been planting annuals, like zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, etc. that are easy to propagate.

Wow, Alma, I'm also impressed with your totals for your first year!! I've been at it for years but don't think I've hit the 100 mark ever. This year I started the 2nd week of January and kept on doing jugs until I ran out of last year's soil. Kept hoping stores would get it back in stock, but they still haven't, so I went out & got another type to try and am getting in gear now. Have around 40 containers out. Usually I look up seeds that need the longer stratification and get those out first. I have some shrubs and trees going that fit that bill. Wintersowing is great, it always amazes me how well it works. Hope that your seedlings do great!!

It should be an exciting year for you, Alma.

I winter sowed liatris ligulistylus, showy milkweed and agastache Apache Sunset a couple weeks ago and finally started a few annuals this week. I sowed snapdragons, mixed celosia, phlox drummond and cowpen daisy.
It's supposed to get above 80 here on Tuesday so I think I may move some containers where they can get a little shade so they won't cook. Back down to 22 Wednesday night but my annuals aren't coming up yet so they'll be ok.